Spatial ecology and movements of wintering White-fronted geese

Pratik Gupte

IMAE: CAU Kiel + Uni Comibra + Uni Poitiers & MPIO Radolfzell

Supervised by: Andrea Kölzsch (MPIO), Kees Koffijberg (SOVON) & Stefan Garthe (FTZ-CAU Kiel)

What are geese?

Large, terrestrial birds
Herbivorous, often grazers
Many species live in families
Undertake impressive migrations

Animal migration

Biannual population movement
Different population classes may migrate differently
May be instinctive or learned.

Geese in Europe: Current Trends

Mostly migratory

Large increases since 1960s: conservation & crops¹

1 Fox & Madsen 2017

Geese in Europe: Challenges

Conflict with agriculture^1,2
Range expansion^1,2
Change in migration patterns³
Much data, less analysis

1 Fox & Madsen 2017, 2 Koffijberg et al. 2017, 3 van der Jeugd et al. 2009

What is the role of families in spatio-temporal population patterns of geese wintering in the Netherlands, Belgium, and northern Germany?

Which goose?

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Death by Data

What data?

Counts of observed flocks (Russia & Holland)
Observations of neck-banded geese
Observations of geese flying overhead
GPS tracking of 19 individuals from Russia
GPS tracking of 13 families (64 birds) in Holland
Weather data from KNMI and DWD

Thanks Due

Andrea Kölzsch (MPIO)
Kees Koffijberg (SOVON)
Stefan Garthe (FTZ - CAU Kiel)
Kamran Safi (MPIO)
Jennifer Golbol (MPIO)
Gerhard Müskens (WUR)
Peter Glazov (IG-RAS)

Wilhelm Windhorst (CAU Kiel)
Joana Alves (UC)
Esteban Suarez (USFQ)
Emilie Valier-Brasier (UP)
Freddie-Jeanne Richard (UP)

Thanks for your time

Questions?

Pratik Gupte

International Master in Applied Ecology

Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel + Universidade de Coimbra + Université de Poitiers +

Department of Migration & Immuno-ecology, Max Planck Institute for Ornithology.